for an inheritance among the saints in light. This may suffice to show you the meaning of the point before us.

I proceed to show you what duties it implies. And,

First. If the office of the Holy Ghost be such as has now been set forth, then it is plain the Christian believer only can say with truth," I believe in the Holy Ghost;" he means to acknowledge his own insufficiency and helplessness, he feels the truth of Jeremiah's declaration, viz. "That it is not in man that walketh, to direct his steps ;" and with St. Paul he says, "In me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing." He sees himself to be nothing but perfect weakness, helplessness, and corruption; like the woman in the Gospel, he finds himself bowed down with a spirit of infirmity: he is as conscious as he is of his own existence, that if left to himself, he should bring infinite dishonour upon the name of God, fall a prey to every temptation of the devil, live according to the course of the world which lieth in wickedness, and fulfil the desires of the flesh, and of the mind. Hence it is that he starts back with abhorrence from the very thought of trusting to any promises or purposes, to any prayers or endeavours, to any watchfulness or self-denials of his own. And then,

Secondly. He waits for the Holy Ghost in all the appointed ways, and trusts in his promised aid. He knows that the Holy Ghost is conveyed to the hearts of men, through the channel of public and private ordinances: with what diligence and perseverance, is he to be seen attending the means of grace! it is his chief delight to read his bible, to pray in private, to go to church, and to the Lord's table; he not only reads the holy scriptures, but prays over them for the light of God's Spirit to shine upon them, and also shine into his renewed heart; he not only repeats excellent words in his prayers, but feels his wants, earnestly begs for relief, and lays himself open to the influences of the Holy Ghost; he not only goes to church and sacrament, but longs to see God's majesty, grace, and glory in the sanctuary. Many an hour does he spend in private prayer, begging for the divine Spirit to descend into his heart, and implant his blessed fruits and graces in his soul; and so is made a partaker of the Holy Ghost.

Thirdly. He improves his gifts and graces. Has he re

ceived any divine light and knowledge into his heart? he desires to be faithful to it. Has he got a glimpse of the beauty and glory of Jesus? he follows the shining light," pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Whatever the Holy Ghost has wrought in his soul, he accepts it as a token for good, and acknowledges it to be his gift; and offers to him a tribute of gratitude and praise on that account. He welcomes the visits of the Holy Ghost to his soul, cherishes his gracious influences, reverently follows his motions, and employs his gifts to the glory of God.

We come now to take a view of the unbelief, contrary to the point under consideration, which consists, First, in self-dependance, or spiritual pride; for, however they may view this article of the Creed who think their own prayers or endeavours can recommend them to God, it is indeed a downright contradiction to talk of believing in the Holy Ghost, and to be trusting in themselves at the same time: yet this is in fact the case with the generality of mankind. They were never awakened to a sight and sense of their corrupt, lost estate; they never saw their dreadful captivity to the world, the flesh, and the devil; never saw that they were sunk in sin, dead in guilt, and corrupt in the deep ground of their hearts: consequently, they never saw that which makes the almighty power and agency of the Holy Ghost necessary. Some of them have even the horrid profaneness and impiety to treat the agency of the divine Spirit with reproach and contempt; they come to church, and there pretend to pray to God to cleanse the thoughts of their hearts by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit, and that he would not take his holy Spirit from them; and then go home and brand with an odious name all pretensions to the quickening, convincing, converting, and sanctifying influences of the Holy Ghost upon the human heart. Surely this demonstrates that they deceive themselves when they say, "I believe in the Holy Ghost."

Secondly. Unbelief in this important point shows itself by a neglect of ordinances, especially prayer. Did you ever hear of the Holy Ghost being promised to any, but such as wait for him in his appointed ways, and pray for his coming into their hearts? Can there then be any belief in those where this is

slighted and neglected? And yet, is it not certain and sure that real heart-prayer is neglected by every unawakened man in the world? In plain truth, my brethren, ye who do not take the bible into your hands once in a week; ye who are strangers to secret, earnest prayer for the life of your souls; ye who read and pray in a cold, formal kind of way, and ye who let any slight excuse hinder you from attending the public worship of God; all ye, I say, are so far from believing in the Holy Ghost, that ye despise him in your hearts. You pour the highest and most profane contempt upon him and his office; you know no more of Christianity than the mere outward name. And,

Thirdly. The unbelief, contrary to this point, consists in quenching or resisting the Holy Ghost, by falling into, or lying in sin. Has the Holy Ghost at any time enlightened your conscience to see that it was your duty to read the bible, to retire to secret prayer, to employ yourself in looking into, and examining your hearts, to meditate upon what you had heard at church, or to be engaged in any devotional exercise? and did you refuse to comply with this call from God? Or again, has your conscience suggested to you that to spend your time in vain and idle conversation, to keep company with the ungodly, to lead a mere worldly life, to spend your sabbaths in sloth and vanity, and to forget God and your soul, was acting an unchristian part? and yet did you persist in going on in your own way? Know then that in either of these cases you quenched and grieved the Spirit of God, you stood out against his motions and influences; he called, but you hardened your neck against him; and to this wilful rejection of the light, you must ascribe your present stupidity and insensibility of heart.

And now, my brethren, in conclusion, I would beseech you to examine yourselves as in the sight of God, and see whether you do indeed believe in the Holy Ghost. What think you? do you believe in the Holy Ghost who have never yet been awakened to see the curse of the law, and the stroke of avenging justice hanging over your heads? Or you who have never been broken down under a sense of the corruption, misery, and helplessness which is in yourselves? Or you who know nothing what it is to wait for the Spirit in the ways of his appointment?

Or you who know, in your own consciences, that you habitually slight his calls, close your eyes upon his sacred illuminations, and quench his influences upon your hearts? What, I say, concerning you who are of this character, suppose you that you have any meaning when you say, "I believe in the Holy Ghost ?" Surely you cannot-surely you must see that such a conduct and such a profession of faith are directly opposite. My brethren, the words of St. Stephen to the Jews are but too applicable to you, and therefore I may well say unto you, "Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost." What an awful thought it is, that the work of the Holy Ghost in enlightening, quickening, and sanctifying the heart, should be as necessary to salvation as the work already finished upon the cross; and yet that you should be speaking peace to yourselves, though entire strangers to it! Why will you not lay it to heart, that the Holy Ghost has his part to act in the Christian scheme of salvation, as well as the Father and the Son? Why will you not put yourselves into his hands, that he may execute his office upon you? Do not you think God means what he says, when he declares that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord?" O! be convinced of your guilt and danger; sleep no longer in security, while your precious immortal souls are at stake; rest not till ye know each of you for yourselves what believing in the Holy Ghost means; be assured that if ever you see God in glory, you must believe in the Holy Ghost for penitence and abasement of soul; you must believe in him for faith which is his own gift, and of his operation; you must believe in him for purity and holiness of heart; you must believe in him for protection against all your spiritual enemies, for continual renewed supplies of his grace, and for perseverance in your spiritual work; till you be at last presented perfect before God in Sion. For, if you live and die strangers to these matters, nothing can save you from hell. In short, you can no more be saved without experiencing the work of the Holy Ghost in enlightening, converting, sanctifying, and renewing your hearts to the image of God in holiness, than you could be saved without salvation. Remember this, ye unwise, and lay it to heart: ye want repentance, ye want faith, ye want holiness; it is the office of the Holy Ghost to work these graces

in your souls, they are his gifts. Go then to him for them, as ye would save your souls alive. Cry mightily to him, to convince you of your misery in sin, to apply the merits of the Redeemer to your hearts, and to enable you to put on the new man, which after God is created in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. And if there are any among you who do indeed believe in the Holy Ghost, it concerns you to cherish his influences in your souls; be faithful to the light which he causes to shine into your hearts; pray to him to guide you in every step you take through this present evil world; go forth in his name, and in his strength, against all the enemies of your souls; get a more practical sense of your own perfect weakness and miserable insufficiency; wait with all diligence and reverence for the holy Spirit of God in all the appointed ways of reading, praying, and serious meditation; and be sure to plead with him for the renewal of your hearts more and more, for growth in grace and holiness, and for transformation into the divine image; then will your mind speak the truth, when you say, "I believe in the Holy Ghost."